The Neriamangalam-Valara stretch of the Kochi-Dhanushkodi national highway.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The State government has submitted a revised affidavit before the Kerala High Court, stating that the 14.50-km-long Neriamangalam-Valara stretch of the Kochi-Dhanushkodi National Highway 85 corridor is revenue land and not forest land.
The government had earlier submitted an affidavit, stating that the road was on reserve forest land. Subsequently, the High Court issued an order restricting road-widening works and tree felling on the stretch, following a petition filed by Idukki-based environmentalist M.N. Jayachandran seeking curbs on non-forest activities in forest land.
His contention was that national highway widening works were being undertaken, allegedly without getting the Centre’s clearance as specified in the Forest Conservation Act. The subsequent High Court order had in turn resulted in widespread protests in Idukki district.
With National Highway 85 development works getting affected, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had filed a review petition before the Kerala High Court. The State government’s affidavit stating that the 14.50-km-long stretch was revenue land and not forest land, comes in its wake, as a clarification to its earlier affidavit. It says that the said land had been excluded from reserve forest.
The court will consider the case again on October 13.
Published – October 08, 2025 11:43 pm IST
